[jbmorgado]

This story illustrates perfectly one of the big reasons why Bitcoin and company aren't and will probably never be used by the general population for anything really.

If even someone that is technical savvy (I don't know much about the OP but someone that uses RAR, knows how to make crypto wallets and knows how to check the processes running in his computer is much ahead of the average person in terms of IT knowledge) can't be safe with their Crypto coins, you really can't expect that the average person ever trusts Bitcoin and company for anything.

I'm sorry for your loss, but there is nothing you can do really. Try and contact Poloniex for the Ether, but unless you have some prof those coins actually belong to you, it will be next to impossible to have them do anything.

[RealityVoid]

I see no reason why bitcoin wallets can not be made to work as simple or simpler than a credit card. The fact that, currently, they are not easy, is not an indication usage can not ever be easy.

Credit-card sized, NFC-powered, tiny embedded devices could be a very practical, very secure, very easy to use hardware wallets.

The only limitation I see is that I could not see them work securely without a screen and I can't imagine a screen as thin as a credit card... :(

[bobbygoodlatte]

Coinbase 2-factor auth plus their long-term Vault storage is plenty secure for the general population.

[bbcbasic]

Or even better a checking account.

[ThisIs_MyName]

Yeah, if you're ok with a third part like Coinbase holding your money, just use a bank. That's what banks are meant for!

[cloudjacker]

they exist.

third parties offer USD denominated checking accounts, that don't fluctuate in value. They offer visa debit cards, I think there is a credit card but not sure.